FIERA - ESOS NEW-GENERATION CCD CONTROLLER

ESO is developing a new generation CCD controller for the Very Large T elescope (VLT) facility on Cerro Paranal. This CCD controller, named F IERA, will also be used at the Cerro La Silla Observatory and in ESO's testing and integration laboratories. A major emphasis in the FIERA d esign is the ability to run a large number of CCD outputs at fast read out rates, so as to rake advantage of the new generation of high speed , low noise amplifiers. The first FIERA prototype was successfully dem onstrated in October 1996. The design is undergoing revisions during 1 997 and about 20 systems will be produced and deployed through the end of 1998. FIERA will see ''first light'' at La Silla and Paranal teles copes in early 1998.